Rheinhessen is embedded in the Rhine-Main and Rhine-Neckar metropolitan regions. The Rheinhessen region is not only the largest German wine-growing area, but also a guarantee for relaxing excursions. In the land of 1000 hills, an e-bike is recommended, because the landscape is very extensive and there are sometimes decent inclines. On the heights, you can enjoy beautiful views as far as Frankfurt, the Taunus Mountains, or even the Wormshe cathedral.
The Selz Valley Cycle Route - Pure Relaxation
So we rented an e-bike, around the route through the Selz Valley to try out. There are only a few climbs, but it is one of the longer tours in Rheinhessen, because in total the route between Ingelheim and Orbis is about 70 km long. But who says you have to cycle the route in one day? After all, we want to take a relaxed tour. And since Rheinhessen is the largest wine-growing region in Germany, a few interesting vinotheques invite you to make a stop along the way.
We start near the mouth of the Selz River on the banks of the Rhine in Ingelheim, after crossing by ferry from Oestrich-Winkel in the Rheingau.
A great start, because such a ferry ride feels like a vacation. We cycle further into the center of Ingelheim and spend half the morning there, because the small town is very diverse and offers some attractions.
We have looked at the Ingelheim Imperial Palace undertaken. The palace complex, built at the end of the 8th century by Charlemagne, presents itself today as a monument area, showing and explaining the uncovered relics and preserved buildings from later times in a historical tour. (The old town hall is also worth seeing. The exhibition rooms there are architecturally very special and every now and then there are impressive exhibitions to see. The International Days, which take place once a year between May and July, are well known throughout the Rhine-Main region).
On the Weekly market we have equipped ourselves with travel provisions to be well supplied later on the tour for a picnic: Regional fruit and a few crackers from game meat, plus fresh bread. Sufficient water we had anyway already in the luggage, the wine in addition there is then on the way.
Leaving Ingelheim behind, you are greeted by the Selz Valley, which leads between bird and nature reserves, vineyard slopes and fields via the wine villages directly into the heart of the region to the town of Alzey and beyond to the source of the Selz in Orbis in the Palatinate.
One cycles past the Eulenmühle, a very idyllic inn With paddock. There the horses graze around the paddock on the flower meadows - the idyll can hardly be topped.
On the horizon is the Schloss Westerhaus winery, a historic farmstead with winery of the Opel family. The tour continues along the Gartenwiese nature reserve, followed by orchard meadows and white and red wine vines growing on the slopes, and again and again we encounter hikers or other cyclists, because this beautiful region is becoming increasingly popular. The Selz ripples romantically along the way, car noise can hardly be heard, but the chirping of birds.
Relaxation in the Day Spa
We also come to the Wellness Hotel Jordan's Untermühle over. When planning, we had considered doing the tour in several stages, namely with overnight stays, because that is always a nice option if you have two or more days. The excellent hotel with wellness area offers packages that leave little to be desired: A heated outdoor pool, various saunas & steam baths and a spacious SPA lounge invite. (An active break with a round of golf is also possible, so there is something for everyone and no boredom arises). The à-la-carte restaurant spoils the guest with high-quality traditional cuisine, either in the cozy guest room or one sits on warm summer evenings romantically in the beer garden in the courtyard of the historic complex. The quiet location in the middle of the fields of Rheinhessen is perfect for relaxing.
Today, however, we drive on, because the next destination is already waiting: wild tulips on the Petersberg between Bechtolsheim and Gau-Odernheim.
A special feature of nature can be marveled at Petersberg in spring, namely when the Tulipa Sylvestris, the yellow vineyard tulips bloom. It is Germany's largest wild tulip stand and one of the largest north of the Alps!
On the hill with 245.6 m above sea level we take a short break, enjoy the view and our picnic. After another 10 km we already have our next stage destination at kilometer 58 of the route, the small town of Alzey with a historic castle, is reached. Time for another break - after all, we are relaxed on the road.
To the Selz Valley for recharging
Our conclusion to the Selz Valley Cycle Route is clear: Make enough breaks to be able to properly recharge your batteries! The idyllic landscape and villages are best experienced with time. Our tip for hot days: make a stop at an ice cream parlor on the way: e.g. in Elsheim at the village fountain or a little off the route at the Eiscafé Picin in Nieder-Olm, while charging the e-bike there at the same time. Also nice, if no weekly market available, is a Picnic to go, because the winemakers and other producers offer delicious food and wine to take home. Wine (as a souvenir) we bought directly from the vintner. The winery Bretz in Bechtholsheim, for example, is always happy about a visit.
Useful info
Tour info, maps and more info you can get on the Bike pages of the Rheinhessen-Touristik. How to get there and back? The route of the Selz Valley Cycle Path is well served by rail, so that the return is also assured. The stages Ingelheim-Nieder-Olm/Alzey or Nieder-Olm - Alzey are particularly suitable. The public transport of the Rhein-Nahe-Nahverkehrsbund offers a good service, because you can take the bike free of charge in the train from 9 o'clock (Info under www.rnn.info).
Along the route, there are charging stations for the e-bikes at regular intervals and the Rhine-Hessian Bike service stations (these are charging and repair stations along the way).
We have obtained detailed map material from the website www.radfahren.rheinhessen.de procured. The Rhineland-Palatinate app was a great support, not only for planning, but also as an orientation aid and companion on the road, because it offers a tour planner with voice navigation and map download as well as many other practical functions, including a search function to find excursion destinations or overnight accommodations. Already at home, we could use it to put together the trip and we were spoiled for choice, because there are some beautiful tours. After the tour through the beautiful Selz Valley, we will next time the Fruit route in the hinterland of Ingelheim. It's simply good cycling in Rheinhessen!
